Wednesday, December 30, 2009

HOTA white Christmas...here in Texas! We spent Christmas with my husband's family up in Fort Worth. Christmas Eve it started snowing, and snowed all day. That alone is rare in Texas, but the next day the snow was still there, and drifted up to almost a foot deep in places. The snow stayed all through Christmas, and there was still patches yesterday when fresh snow started to fall. For those of you from places where white Christmases are the norm...well, that's extraordinary here. The boys made snowmen and had snowball fights...it's been wonderful!

HOTRelaxing over the holidays while totally ignoring my shop and blog...and still getting a couple after Christmas sales all the same.

NOTNot much. Yeah...I made diddly in my CafePress and Printfection shops this December. That's expected at Printfection, where I've yet to make my first sale, though somewhat dissapointing at CafePress, where I started and used to make the most sales. But my Zazzle Shop had more sales than I've ever had there, so I still feel like I did well. I'll just have to re-think where I focus my efforts.

I found the "Hot and Not Hot" meme over at Loobylu's. She puts up a Mr. Linky every Wednessday for participants to list their posts. It's fun and easy if you want to join in!

Monday, December 28, 2009

It's been a great Christmas! Texas had snow...real snow, that stayed on the ground from Christmas Eve through now (though most of it's melted, there's still a little left). I have been blissfully ignorant of anything having to do with my shop, and just ventured on today to see how things went. Discovered that Zazzle was having an after-Christmas sale, ending tonight. Most of these are not quite as good as the pre-Christmas sales...but the 75% off cards is the best I've seen, so I thought I'd pass this along...

75% OFF Cards, Photo Cards and Invites50% OFF Ties40% OFF Posters25% OFF Mousepads25% OFF Business Cards20% OFF Tote Bags20% OFF Aprons15% OFF T-Shirts10% OFF MugsCoupon Code: ZAZZLEACSALEThrough Dec 28, 2009 at my Zazzle Shop

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

NOTYesterday was the last day to get gifts by Christmas with standard or economy shipping and my shops, but...

HOTYou can get 2-Day shipping for the price of standard at My Printfection Shops through Dec 18 - there's no coupon, you just enter 2-Day shipping at checkout and get the reduced price automatically. And, there's one day left for ground shipping at My Zazzle Shop (and you can get free shipping on ground through tomorrow with coupon code ZAZZLEGROUND when you order over $50).

HOTTaking a break from working on the shop and decorating for Christmas. I love decorating the Christmas tree with the boys!

NOTSeasonal colds...STILL!

NOTMy husband messing around with the computer so now I can't access stuff. He's asleep now after a late-nighter last night and I so want to wake him up and growl at him. But I won't.

We don't get any advance warnings about most sales (the shop is mine, the designs are mine, but the storefront and printing is Zazzle's, so they control coupons and disounts). I'm guessing we might get another day's extension on these and maybe some upgraded shipping deals, but because ground shipping by Christmas ends on most items ends Dec 17th...I think this is the last of the really good deals for the season. I'm actually breathing a sigh of relief. Time to stop promoting and spend some serious time on my own Christmas. Hope you all are having a wonderful holiday!

NOTYesterday was the last day for Christmas orders of dark apparel, dark bags, and postage stamps through my by economy or standard shipping through my Zazzle shop. But no worries...you can still order dark shirts through my CafePress shop by economy through Dec 13 or at my Zazzle Shop by ground through Dec 17 (which doesn't cost that much more). Other deadlines are fast approaching to, so check for shipping deadlines here.

NOTMy fuzzy brain not realizing yesterday was Tuesday, not Wednessday.

Monday, December 7, 2009

Dec 17 At My Zazzle Shop - Last day for Ground or Priority shipping on most items (dark apparel and bags, binders and stamps take longer), and 2-Day shipping on Binders.

Dec 18 Printfection - Last day for 2-Day Shipping (which you can get for the price of ground through Dec 18 - make sure to select 2-Day shipping during checkout).At My Zazzle Shop - Last day for 2-Day Shipping on dark apparel, dark bags, and stamps, and last day for Epress shipping on Binders.

Dec 20 At My Zazzle Shop - Last day for 2-Day Shipping on most items, and last day for Express Shipping on dark apparel, dark bags, stamps (binders take longer).Printfection - Last day for 1-Day Shipping

It Is Already Too Late For...Economy or Standard Shipping on all Zazzle items, and ground and priority shipping on Zazzle dark apparel, dark bags, stamps and binders, Standard and Economy Shipping at my CafePress Shop, and economy and standard shipping at my Printfection shop (though you can get 2-day for the price of standard through Dec 18th there! Just choose 2-Day shipping at checkout).

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

It's time again for What's Hot/What's Not Hot Wednesday! I missed last week's Hot/Not post so this covers the last two weeks.

HOTMy son's 1st grade school play, Little Red's Thanksgiving. Loved watching my lil' leprechaun do the "Sham-Rock." My son's favorite part (and mine too...other than the parts he was in) was when the big bad wolf tried to eat little red, and she threw off her cape and revealed her secret identity as "Wonder Red" -- go girl power!

Here's the Leprechaun taking a bow...

HOTAll the new products that have come out! I love getting to add new stuff to my shops! Love it, love it! And during November I got to add new cheaper mugs to my Printection Shops and added aprons, beach bags, and gym bags to my CafePress Shops.

Yeah...had to post that again. Those are only $15.49 too!

NOTIt is NOT HOT that the warning sign images on the mugs look so wonky.I assure you that's just Printfection's attempt to make the image look curved on the online overlay, and it won't look like that when you get your mug.

HOTZazzle brought back it's coupon for free shipping, so you can still get free US shipping today on any order from my shops with coupon code HOLIDAYSHIPS. :-)

HOTFinding out there's some holiday deals out there for our friends too.

NOTPeople mis-using the Bible and putting it on an aweful T-shirt so others can do it too. I don't care if you want to diss Obama, but doing it like that is just not cool.

HOTZazzle and CafePress for taking it out of their marketplace. Both of these shops don't like to interfere with or censor shopkeepers designs in most cases, but I agree with their decision to do so here.HOT ('cause it's not)It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas, even here in Texas!

If you would like to take part in What's Hot and What's Not Wednesday, head over to Loobylu's Mr. Linky and join in!

Well, it looks like Zazzle did well with their free shipping offer cause' they brought it back! Yeah! You can get free shipping on all orders from my Zazzle shop with coupon code HOLIDAYSHIPS! Shop Here!

The free shipping offer is for ground shipping to U.S. addresses only.

Honestly, I'm not quite as excited about those since I already offer similar bags through Zazzle, and Printfection, and because the print area is somewhat hard to work with. There is only a square area in the center of the front you can print on (not a rectangle as would be expected), and though the print area on the back is larger, people usually like to walk with the pocket out, so I'm not sure if using that area is the answer (I can use both, but that raises the price). I'd love your feedback on that.

Monday, November 30, 2009

Shopping abroad? You can browse my shop in your native language and make payments in your local currency! Click on you country's flag above to shop, and visit this page any time to find coupons good at my international storefronts.

COUPONS

UK and CANADA50% Off Business cards with coupon code HALFPRICEBIZ (Ends 1/14)

Sales above will not work in US storefront, and can't be combined with other offers. Other sales and coupons listed on my blog may not apply to international storefronts, and some may only apply in certain countries. Click here to see more international sales.

Cinnamon Apple Chamomile Herbal TeaThis was like drinking a slice of apple pie! Seriously yummy! If you wanted to introduce your kids to tea, this would be a good one to start with. And since it's Caffeine Free it won't give them the bouncy bouncies.

Mango Passionfruit HerbalHad a nice pleasing aroma, but the tea itself was not as fruity as I expected, and I didn't care for the undertaste of licorice (but if you like licorice that wouldn't bother you).Flavored Black Teas

Chocolate MintLOVED the chocolate mint tea. It had a mellow mint flavor with a smooth taste, more subdued than some of the pungent mint teas I've tried in the past. The chocolate flavor was subtle but noticeable, and the flavor blended well with taste of the black tea. I also liked the aroma of this tea...one I could just sit over and smell for ages.

Peach ApricotThis tea had a nice rich smooth taste. I liked how the fruity flavor blended with the taste of the black tea.

Strawberry In 7th grade our English class hosted an English tea party (connected to some book which I've now forgotten), and my mom went out and got some strawberry tea for me to bring to class. I loved its strong fruity taste, and that started my love of tea. So, this tea probably didn't stand a chance against the tea of my memory. The strawberry taste of Yvonne's tea was lighter, and overshadowed by the taste of black tea.___

These were all bagged tea. She also sells loose tea and tea accessories. I'll be sharing a review of the honey sticks and the other teas she sent once I've tried them.

I liked that you can order samples of any individual tea you want to try, which makes it easy to try lots of different teas from her shop. And, don't worry, the "tagless" bag samples come in little labeled baggies so you can tell what they are.

And guess what! On her blog this month she giving away a mug and peppermint tea to one of her followers. There's only a couple days left and not many followers yet, so you have a good chance of winning if you follow...plus it's worthwhile to follow anyways because she often posts freebies and sales there.

Saturday, November 21, 2009

I don't talk about my Printfection shop much because printfection rarely has sales or new products. But now they have just come out with mugs, sports bottles, and can coolers you can get through my Printfection shop -- and the prices are cheaper than my other shops.

If your wondering why I don't keep the same products the same price at all my shops, its because the base price (the price I pay) is different. To make them all the same I'd have to make them all the highest price.

You can shop my printfection store for humorous gifts here and artistic gifts here. While you're there make sure to check out the cutting boards, and all the great colors of shirts not available at my other shops (like purple, dark colored long sleaved kids shirts, and more.)

Thursday, November 19, 2009

$5 off any order of 2 or more t-shirts(Though on the planned Black Friday sale starting at 3:00 pm PT thanksgiving you can get $4 off EACH shirt - so I might wait on the shirts unless you needed them urgently)

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

NOTRealizing that I've grown to be such a cold wimp. Used to wear shorts and sorrels in the snow, and now I'm feeling frrrrozen at 68 degrees!

HOTThe tea I traded one of my mugs for from Yvonne's Tea Cafe--and getting it just in time for the colder weather. We're going to be reviewing each other products so I'll be sharing more about the teas I got here soon.

HOTFinding a new favorite cereal--Kashi U with Black Currents and Walnuts. It has nearly the same amount of vitimins as the bran cereal I had been eating, but so much tastier. YUMMY YUMMY YUMMMMMMMY

HOTNew products at CafePress, including colored aprons and GYM BAGS! Still adding them to my shops, so I'll be posting more about these soon...

Stumbling on the same little Mexican restaurant we had eaten at but forgotten the name of during our last trip to Austin (Curras Grill), and feasting on unique food the kids would have turned their nose up at.

NOT

The parking at Curras. They really need more parking...though I suppose it does keep the place from getting overcrowded.

HOT

Google maps on I-phone. Saved us from much mis-direction, traffic jams, and other frustration.

HOT BECAUSE IT'S NOT HOT

The weather! It's been wonderfully NOT HOT and NOT COLD! It's been gorgeous!NOT

My living room, bedroom, bathroom, etc. They're a disaster. No, you can not see pictures.

NOT

Spending too much time promoting my site and not enough time creating.

Thursday, November 5, 2009

If you follow my blog you may recall that when the Zazzle Stationery came out I talked about a scribbleprint border I had drawn which I was going to have my husband scan for the stationery. Well, he wasn't able to scan right away, and once it was scanned other stuff came up (Halloween, my child's birthday, and other miscellaneous stuff) and I wasn't able to clean it up and get it ready. Well, I had some time this morning, and here it is...

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

With the coupon code NEW270 you can get free shipping on orders of $50 or through November 6th, 2009 at my CafePress shops. Now, I haven't shown off my products at CafePress much here, but I have some great items there I don't offer anywhere else. Here's a few of those...

Ornaments...

Flip Mino Cameras...These have recently been reduced by $30...see more styles and colors here.

Maternity Shirts...

Boxer Shorts...

Framed Tiles, Tile Coasters, and Keepsake Boxes...

My CafePress shop is also the only place you can find my designs on clocks, pillows, bibs, doggy bowls, Sigg Bottles, teddy bears, and notepads!